New hosts confirmed to take over Today show after departures of Sarah Abo and Karl Stefanovic
Channel Nine has finally confirmed their new Today show hosts.
Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort will replace Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo after the latter announced her shock departure on Wednesday.
Abo, who has been on maternity leave, had been holding the fort alongside a series of guest co-hosts after Stefanovic abruptly left in June.
Steinfort will replace Stefanovic, while Jeffreys will take over when Abo permanently departs at the end of the year.
Nine confirmed the news in a statement, saying the appointments follow ‘extensive research, viewer behaviour, and audience feedback.’
Jeffreys said she was honoured to continue the show’s legacy after nearly 15 years with the Today show family.
The Today show is heading for a massive makeover. Pictured: Former hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo
The big-name stars likely to take up the mantle are Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort , news.com.au reported on Wednesday evening. Both pictured
Abo announced the news of her exit via a press release on Wednesday afternoon.
‘Words can’t express how grateful I am to our viewers for letting me into your homes to be part of your morning routine. Without you, there is no Today show,’ she said.
‘Together with 60 Minutes, I’ve spent my time at Nine chasing stories, travelling and reporting from all over the world, interviewing some incredible and inspiring people from all walks of life.’
Sarah said that motherhood had ‘heralded a new chapter’ and that sharing that with her audience had been ‘truly special.’
‘As many of you know, this has been a significant journey for my family and will continue to be my greatest achievement. I’d like to thank the wider Today team – the amazing crew, incredible producers and my wonderful fellow hosts – you all know how much you mean to me.
‘It takes a special kind of crazy to wake up at the hours we do but it’s so much easier when the team feels like family. I’ll miss you all dearly.’
Karl abruptly resigned from the network after his interview with far-right figure Tommy Robinson. Meanwhile, Sarah has announced she will leave the show at the end of the year
Steinfort will replace Stefanovic, while Jeffreys will take over when Abo permanently departs at the end of the year
Nine Executive Director of News and Current Affairs, Fiona Dear, said: ‘Sarah has been an integral part of the Today team, bringing warmth, energy and first-class journalism to the program each morning.
‘It takes enormous skill to front three-and-a-half hours of live television every day, and Sarah did it with sharp journalistic instincts.
‘We thank her for everything she brought to Today, and wish Sarah and her family all the very best.’
Her departure from Nine comes after the shock exit of her former Today co-host Karl Stefanovic in June.
Karl abruptly resigned from the network after his interview with far-right figure Tommy Robinson, which he uploaded to his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, on YouTube, only to delete it hours later after facing backlash.
In a statement to The Daily Mail, Channel Nine said that Stefanovic could not continue working at the network while also hosting his podcast.
